This E-Bike Is A People Magnet

I’m cruising a local parkway at 33 miles per hour, when my friend pulls up alongside me, remarking that my vehicle is making no noise whatsoever. The thing is, we’re both on electric bikes. His -- a top-of-the-line model from a major brand -- hums just enough to be steadily audible. Mine -- Stromer’s new ST1x ($4,999) -- is stone silent. And smooth. And so easy to pedal.

Stromer ST1x

Stromer

I’m on my way to a professional golf tournament, roughly two miles from my home. When I park the bike in the media tent, its stealthy, clean, matte-black looks act as an eye magnet. And by the time I’ve locked up the bike, no fewer than 10 people have stopped by to ask about it. How much does it cost? How many miles does it get per charge? Does it ride as cool as it looks? How fast does it go? Where do I buy one? How can I try one out? Believe me, I’ve never used a product of any kind before that has attracted as much curiosity and attention as the Stromer.

And I can understand the interest. It’s simply a thing of sheer beauty. There’s no throttle on this model. Just 11 speeds of pedal assist mode. Its components are all first-rate, including the Shimano drivetrain, Tektro Dorado disc brakes, CYRO Drive motor, wide Schwalbe BigBen Puncture Guard tires, customized aluminum fenders, etc. The removable, lithium ion battery weighs about 10 pounds and hides discreetly inside the sleek frame. It can be charged while inside the frame, or can be removed for external charging. As a side note, the battery charger has a built-in fan that cools itself down while juicing up the battery. Very cool.

While the standard battery gets up to 75 miles per battery charge, the upgraded model will take you as much as 90 miles. The closest I’ve seen to that capacity on any electric bike I’ve personally tried is about 50. And by the way, the regenerative braking system helps extend the battery life by feeding energy directly back into the battery. The company claims that what makes the bike so smooth is its precise sensor system that reacts immediately to your impulses. So when I pull away from a dead stop after a red light, the acceleration seems so natural and effortless -- unlike I think literally every other e-bike I’ve ridden. There’s no struggle pedaling or having the bike teeter awkwardly. And whatever the suspension is, I barely felt bumps on the road.

A sensational e-bike.

Stromer

By the way, also unlike every other e-bike I’ve tried -- this one requires no key to start. You just turn it on with a hidden button underneath the frame’s neck. A screen lights up on the frame, which shows you the gear you’re in, the speed you’re going, battery life, etc. There’s also an off button on that screen, to power down the bike when you finish your ride.

Although I didn’t really use it much, there’s a companion smartphone app that lets you lock and unlock the bike. As soon as someone tries to move your locked bike, the motor disables, lights start flashing, and it sends you a text message about what’s going on. And there’s a GPS component that lets you see exactly where it is.

Two things worried me about potentially owning this bike. The first is that it rides so smoothly that it can get moving over 30 miles per hour without the rider even noticing. The second is that based off how much interest it gauged in my week of testing, I could see many friends wanting to borrow it all the time.